Hard to avoid the publicity, but this RoughRider is trying

CEDAR RAPIDS - Michael Parks admits he's done it. He didn't want to but couldn't help it.

“I have, yeah,” the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders winger said. “But you try not to look too much at it, you know?”

Parks was a fifth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in last summer's NHL Draft. Because of that, every hockey “expert” now has an opinion on his game, even though most have probably never seen him play.

“There are tons of scouting reports and stuff like that out there. All kinds of websites,” Parks said. “You just can't listen to them. Play your game, don't read into that. Just worry about coming to practice, working hard and getting better every day.”

One website noted Parks' smart defensive play positionally. Another said the 18-year-old's pro future will be as a checking-type player because of his skating speed, high motor and lack of offensive skills.

That one rankled RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson.

“In my own opinion, I don't think you can make a determination on anybody right now,” Carlson said. “Shame on people that do. Parksie can score; he's always scored. He's more of a versatile type guy who can do just about anything.”

Parks had 11 goals and 11 assists in 51 games last season for the Riders, who host Chicago tonight. He had two goals in Cedar Rapids' home opener a couple of weeks ago, including a beautiful breakaway backhander off a deke.

“It being my second year ... I know what to expect. I've got more experience,” he said.

Parks will head to the University of North Dakota next year. There will be a lot more said and written about him, and he'll ignore it all. Well, he'll try.

“As you move up levels, there's going to be more media and stuff like that,” he said. “You've just got to worry about the people in this locker room, not the websites and the blogs.”